Taiwan

Hundreds of supporters of Taiwan's former president Chen Shui-bian, seen at at the Tucheng detention center in March, protested outside court during an appeal against his detention on graft charges.(AFP/File/Sam Yeh)

Protest as Taiwan court hears ex-leader's appeal

AFP - Fri Jul 10, 12:42 AM ET

TAIPEI (AFP) - Hundreds of supporters of Taiwan's former president Chen Shui-bian protested outside court during an appeal against his detention on graft charges.

  • Taiwan's ex-leader pledges vow of silence: ex-laywer AFP - Thu Jul 9, 12:07 PM ET

    TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan's detained former president Chen Shui-bian on Thursday renewed his vow of silence in protest against what he says is his politically motivated trial.

  • Sex workers in Taiwan have cautiously welcomed a government plan to legalise prostitution, but the scheme is being opposed by an alliance of women's groups who fear it will breed crime and violence. A red-light area similar to Amsterdam's famed canalside sex-for-sale district has been proposed for the capital Taipei.(AFP/File/Sam Yeh)
    Taiwan's women split over prostitution issue AFP - Thu Jul 9, 1:33 AM ET

    TAIPEI (AFP) - Sex workers in Taiwan have cautiously welcomed a government plan to legalise prostitution, but the scheme is being opposed by an alliance of women's groups who fear it will breed crime and violence.

  • Protestors wave the party flag of Taiwan's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party during a rally in Taipei in May 2009. Taiwan's pro-independence opposition said Wednesday its members were prohibited from attending what it said was a politically motivated forum in China.(AFP/File/Patrick Lin)
    Taiwan's opposition boycotts China forum AFP - Wed Jul 8, 12:01 PM ET

    TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan's pro-independence opposition said Wednesday its members were prohibited from attending what it said was a politically motivated forum in China.

  • Air China planes on the runway at Beijing Airport in 2005. Taiwan has rejected China's call for the opening of restricted air space over the Taiwan Strait to help meet rising passenger demand between the island and the mainland.(AFP/File)
    Taiwan rejects China's call to open air space AFP - Tue Jul 7, 1:21 AM ET

    TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan has rejected China's call to open restricted air space over the Taiwan Strait to help meet rising passenger demand between the island and the mainland.

  • In this Thursday, June 18, 2009 photo released by Taiwan Army Command, the arrival dock of Taiwan's frontline island of Nankan in the Matsu Island group, is seen lined with military personnel in U.S.-made Gavin Armored Personnel Carriers, just 60 kilometers (36 miles) off the China coast. (AP Photo/Taiwan Army Command)
    Taiwan islands blossom as China tensions ebb AP - Mon Jul 6, 12:04 AM ET

    MATSU, Taiwan - On this front line of the standoff between China and Taiwan, Cold War tensions are being trumped by the Chinese crested tern.

  • Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega (L) and his Taiwanese counterpart Ma Ying-Jeou pose during a press conference in Managua. Ma arrived in Nicaragua Friday for a two-day official visit, aiming to boost ties with one of the poorest nations in Central America.(AFP/Mayerling Garcia)
    Taiwanese president in Nicaragua to boost ties AFP - Fri Jul 3, 7:10 PM ET

    MANAGUA (AFP) - Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou arrived in Nicaragua Friday for a two-day official visit aimed at boosting ties with one of the poorest nations in Central America.

  • Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou (pictured on June 10) will arrive in Nicaragua on Friday for a two-day official visit intended to strengthen "friendly relations" between the countries, according to diplomatic sources in Managua.(AFP/File/Patrick Lin)
    Taiwan's president to visit Nicaragua Friday AFP - Thu Jul 2, 9:53 PM ET

    MANAGUA (AFP) - Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou will arrive in Nicaragua on Friday for a two-day official visit intended to strengthen "friendly relations" between the countries, according to diplomatic sources in Managua.

  • Patrol boats of Japan Coast Guard are seen warning a Taiwanese boat (right) heading for disputed islands in the East China Sea, in 2008. Japan's defence ministry is considering deploying troops on an island in the East China Sea near a group of islets that is claimed by Tokyo, Beijing and Taipei, according to a ministry spokesman.(AFP/Jiji Press/File)
    Japan may deploy troops near disputed islands AFP - Thu Jul 2, 2:06 AM ET

    TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's defence ministry is considering deploying troops on an island in the East China Sea near a group of islets that is claimed by Tokyo, Beijing and Taipei, according to a ministry spokesman.

  • US names new head of de facto Taiwan embassy AP - Wed Jul 1, 11:49 PM ET

    TAIPEI, Taiwan - The United States on Thursday named a career diplomat with wide-ranging experience in East Asia to be the new head of its de facto embassy in Taiwan.

  • A worker drives a fork-lift truck at a terminal of Taiwan's first free trade port near the northern Taoyuan airport. Taiwan has partially lifted its decades-old ban on investment in the island by Chinese companies or individuals in a further sign of closer economic ties between the former bitter rivals.(AFP/File/Patrick Lin)
    Taiwan lifts ban on investment by Chinese AFP - Tue Jun 30, 7:01 AM ET

    TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan on Tuesday partially lifted its decades-old ban on investment in the island by Chinese companies or individuals in a further sign of closer economic ties between the former bitter rivals.

  • A scientist points to a seismograph. A series of earthquakes including one with a magnitude of 5.6 rocked Taiwan, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.(AFP/File/Olivier Morin)
    Series of quakes shake Taipei buildings AFP - Sun Jun 28, 7:43 AM ET

    TAIPEI (AFP) - A series of earthquakes including one with a magnitude of 5.6 rocked Taiwan on Sunday, the Seismology Centre said, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

  • FILE -In this AUG. 14, 1999 file photo, a Taiwan-made Indigenous Defense Fighter, IDF, does a high-speed fly over during an air show at Taoyuan Air Force Base in Taipei, Taiwan. Taiwan's state-owned defense company said Monday it is discussing cooperation on building commercial aircraft with a Chinese company.(AP Photo/WallySantana, File)
    Diplomat says US to consider F-16 sale to Taiwan AP - Fri Jun 26, 4:46 AM ET

    TAIPEI, Taiwan - The de facto U.S. ambassador in Taiwan said Friday the Obama administration will consider the contentious sale of F-16 fighter jets to the island after key American officials are settled into their jobs.

  • Pressured by sex workers, Taiwan OKs prostitution Reuters - Wed Jun 24, 5:18 AM ET

    TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan began a process of legalizing prostitution Wednesday making the island the latest place in the world to decriminalize the world's oldest profession.

  • A Chinese officer adjusts a microphone for US Department of Defence Under Secretary Michele Flournoy (L) at the opening US-China Defence Consultative Talks in Beijing. China and the United States Wednesday hailed defence talks here as a step forward in mutual understanding and agreed to meet again in July to discuss how to avoid a repeat of recent high-seas standoffs.(AFP/Pool/Greg Baker)
    China, US hail defence talks despite lingering tensions AFP - Wed Jun 24, 12:00 PM ET

    BEIJING (AFP) - China and the United States Wednesday hailed defence talks here as a step forward in mutual understanding and agreed to meet again in July to discuss how to avoid a repeat of recent high-seas standoffs.

  • Cheered on by Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, left, top US envoy to Taiwan Stephen Young, right, hold an auspicious Chinese white radish given to him by a dancing lion during a site dedication ceremony for the de facto US embassy in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, June 22, 2009. The move, one of the most conspicuous expressions of U.S. interest in the island since Washington shifted its recognition to Beijing in 1979, comes amid a rapid improvement in relations between Taipei and China. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
    US dedicates new diplomatic office in Taiwan AP - Mon Jun 22, 11:23 AM ET

    TAIPEI, Taiwan - The United States dedicated the grounds for a new representative office in Taiwan on Monday, making a visible commitment to the island at a time its rapidly improving ties with longtime foe China are diminishing U.S. influence.

  • A beggar is seen laying on the ground hoping for money from passers by on a Taipei street. The richest families in Taiwan earn 62 times more than the poorest five percent -- a record gap in income levels, according to a report citing government figures.(AFP/File/Sam Yeh)
    Taiwan's income gap at record high: report AFP - Sat Jun 20, 3:12 AM ET

    TAIPEI (AFP) - The richest families in Taiwan earn 62 times more than the poorest five percent -- a record gap in income levels, according to a report citing government figures.

  • Taiwan researchers sort through eggs used for the cultivation of a swine flu vaccine at a laboratory in Taichung. Taiwan is set to mass produce swine flu vaccine later this year, a bio-tech company said as the island's confirmed cases rose to 58.(AFP/Patrick Lin)
    Taiwan set to mass produce swine flu vaccine: firm AFP - Thu Jun 18, 11:47 AM ET

    TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan is set to mass produce swine flu vaccine later this year, a bio-tech company said Thursday, as the island's confirmed cases rose to 58.

  • A Taiwanese coast guard patrol boat (right) during an exercise. Taiwan's coastguard said it was likely to increase its presence in a disputed South China Sea archipelago, in response to a significant rise in the number of foreign fishing boats there(AFP/File/Patrick Lin)
    Taiwan likely to boost South China Sea presence AFP - Sun Jun 14, 2:16 AM ET

    TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan's coastguard said it was likely to increase its presence in a disputed South China Sea archipelago, in response to a significant rise in the number of foreign fishing boats there.